Five of the best sports to play with your kids

As we get older and take on more responsibilities, many of us find we have less and less time for active hobbies, sports, and leisure activities. Similarly, if we have young children, it can seem increasingly difficult to spend quality time with them. Balancing work, family life, and leisure can be a tricky task! However, from the toddler stage upwards, young children invariably love to play ‘sports’ with mum and dad and clearly, that is something to be encouraged as most children do not get enough exercise these days. Choosing sports to play with your kids that you can all enjoy, especially as they get older, is a great way to help all the family keep fit and healthy and have quality time together.

These are five of the best sports to play with your kids as they are all adaptable for very young children, but equally can be enjoyed right up into their teens and maybe even beyond.

Tennis

Tennis is a great place to start if you are looking for a physical activity that the whole family can enjoy. Now is a particularly good time to get started because of the renewed interest in the sport as a result of the US Open Tennis Championships.

Rackets and balls at starter level are relatively cheap, and you can find tennis courts to play for free all over the country. However, you can always improve your skills in the back garden before taking to the court.

Tennis is a good sport to improve your hand-eye coordination and cardiovascular fitness, but it is also a lot of fun if you’re just messing about.

And you never know, you might have the next Emma Raducanu or Andy Murray in the family!

Cricket

Cricket can be a very entertaining sport for kids and adults to play together. Again, basic cricket equipment is relatively affordable and you can get started with just a bat and tennis ball if you think creatively.

You can easily use a wheely bin or a chair as the stumps, allowing you to play anywhere around the house or in the garden – just be careful not to break anything!

Playing in a local park will provide more space, but you may find yourself doing a bit more running.

Once kids hit their teens and beyond, amateur cricket is a great sport to play together in a local team or competition.

Swimming

If you have access to a local pool, swimming is a fantastic way to spend time with your kids and stay active.

Teaching kids how to swim can be a real bonding experience. Swimming classes can even be started from when a baby is just six weeks old! Once older children are comfortable in the water on their own, you can start to introduce more games and races in the pool.

If you would also prefer to do some lengths to improve your fitness, bring someone to keep an eye on them while you get your exercise in.

Cycling

Cycling is a very accessible way to get some fresh air and explore the area around you. The upfront cost of bikes and equipment may be a little more expensive in comparison to other activities, but they should last you many years if well cared for.

You can explore local trails and cycling routes or just pedal around public parks. You can even take a picnic to make it a day out for all the family.

Badminton

Badminton is an easy way to stay active in the garden. You can invest in a net, shuttlecock, and set of rackets to hold a family tournament or just get some practice in as a pair.

Although badminton can be a more challenging sport to learn and play properly, it can be very satisfying once you’ve picked it up. In the event of bad weather, you can always find a local leisure centre that has courts marked out to continue your activities.

Obviously, there are many more sports you can play with your kids and you might like to have a look at these fun-filled sports day activities for additional ideas. But we hope this article gives you some ideas and gets you and your family started on a more active and engaged family life!